Chapter 1 - Ten Years Later
July 1974
It'd been ten years now since the seven had struck ground on the uncharted island. Time passed liminally for the close-knit group, only measured now by their advancing age, more limited use of the radio, and by his own careful calculation.
Stranded or not, the Professor refused to depart with reality. And he refused to stop living….
Still, the day marked an anniversary that gave him a moment of pause. It was the tenth anniversary of his leaving home for his research trip to Hawaii. Not that it'd been much of a home to speak of. Sure his life had been full. Research, grants, students, and fellow faculty were the order of every day. There was never much of anything new, no one to come home to, and certainly no one special on the horizon.
In a way, the island had been an escape. Here, for the first time, he felt like part of a family. Still, he lamented life as it could've been: scientific breakthroughs, more research … tenure. And who knew, perhaps someone special had been on the horizon? And he'd just missed her.
The Professor sighed, a slight twinge of sadness on his heart as he made his way through the island's now well-traveled jungle. He sat down atop a boulder and took in a deep breath, the ocean air cleansing his lungs. Roy Hinkley was not a spiritual man, but tried to tell himself there was purpose in what'd happened, that he'd been used mightily here, to keep the rest of the seven alive…
He opened his eyes wide, startled when a twig snapped in the distance. His heart skipped a beat and he jumped up ready to fight, simply stunned when he saw a woman picking flowers just feet away from him. But the Professor remained frozen, eyeing this beautiful creature with stunned curiosity, the usually emotionally unaware man now painfully conscious of who it was, and the fact that his heart had skipped several beats.
'She's…she's… wow she's even more beautiful…"
The Professor jumped, rushing to hide behind the boulder as Mary Ann, still unaware that he was watching, passed. He peaked out from behind the rock, bewildered, as if trying to hide that he'd been caught without a shirt on at dinner. He didn't know when he'd stopped seeing a girl when he looked at her, and started seeing a woman. A really beautiful woman who made his heart sputter.
Perhaps it really was some time ago. After all, he'd really meant it when he'd sponsored her in the Miss Castaway contest. Even then, he'd found her beautiful and didn't think even the glamorous Ginger Grant could compare. Then he'd been nervous, nervous enough to be in denial about his feelings, but now he found he could barely hold it in anymore. Not when he refused to stop living.
Then, her youth had made that easier. He wasn't sure how old she was when they were shipwrecked, but recalled her saying something like: 'It's women and children first, which means I get two votes.' … Lovely or not, he'd considered her a child then, someone to protect. Even if she wasn't, she certainly reminded him of his students, rather than a potential partner.
But now everything had changed. She'd aged just enough to be ten times prettier to him, ten years had given her a grace and maturity that drew him to her like a magnet. He loved everything about her; the sound of her voice, the way her eyes sparkled with love and consideration when she spoke. And that smile. Oh, that smile. Like a smile made for his own eyes.
He moved to speak but found he could not when she passed again, still not noting his presence. He gulped, swallowing the words that wouldn't come.
'She's not that farm girl anymore …' Something inside him urged, the pit of his stomach lurching as she moved on, leaving him in the dust.
After several moments, the Professor emerged from his hiding place and continued to walk. A well-traveled path clearly forged ahead of him, the learned man found himself uncharacteristically uncertain about what steps to take next.
…
If that weren't enough, it was Mary Ann's birthday. The rest of the castaways had gone to a considerable effort to make a nice little surprise party for her, each of them competing with the other to try to come up with the best gift. The Howells of course, seemed to have it made. Mrs. Howell having decided to give her a much-loved, family-heirloom of a necklace.
The Skipper and Gilligan had made her a raft… No, not the kind that could set sail to Hawaii soundly. Instead, it was a sunbathing raft… kind of like an inflatable pool raft, but made of bamboo. The bumbling first mate had had fun with it, testing it out and getting dunked into he lagoon on repeat until they got it just right. Ginger made her a dress out of fabric they'd just gotten (that'd washed up), a considerable effort given that Mary Ann was always around … And Ginger didn't quite know how to sew like Mary Ann did… or even like Mrs. Howell did. At the end of the day, the Professor wouldn't be surprised if he later discovered Mary Ann had helped with it… But didn't yet realize it.
The Professor felt all of this left him in a tough spot. The normally creative man couldn't think of anything to fashion or repurpose that she might actually like. It was one of the unfortunate things about having been on the island so many years. They'd been expert with their ingenuity but, after all this time there was only so much they could make with limited resources. After he'd build the "car" for the Howells he didn't think he could do much better.
This left him in a panic when it came to the gift. How was he supposed to make something worthy for someone he … he…. The Professor didn't know how to phrase it. His nervousness made him lose grip on phrases that might be appropriate to his station, and instead grasp onto the impossible vernacular of the day. He could hear Gilligan say it in his head and it made him shiver in disdain: 'Oh! You like-like her.' He heard the first mate urge in his head. 'Professor really, you have a crush?' He heard him ask.
He supposed this was how it would be phrased although, in reality his feelings went far deeper than the imaginary adolescent discourse he'd just had with Gilligan. It was something beyond puppy love, and a bit closer to making a will leaving her everything he had … if he had anything to leave her at all.
So the Professor, after giving it too much panicked thought, sat down to make her a journal. It was a task easier said than done. And now that it was completed, he was proud of it… primitive as though it might be. The pages were rough, the leather was coarse, but there it was nonetheless. He'd done it for himself several times over, but none of the others had ever asked him to make them something to write down their private thoughts, or adventures. But of any of them, he thought Mary Ann would appreciate the gesture, being kind-hearted and level-headed in a way that made him love her more.
He ran his hand over the heart he'd fashioned in the leather cover, wishing he had the courage to say I love you with something more than a place to pour out her own heart. But for now, he sighed deep, perhaps that was good enough. He dusted the journal off again, tracing his finger over the heart before carrying it out to the party.
…..
Mary Ann's crestfallen gaze lay singularly transfixed on the giant harvest moon. It hovered low over the ocean, lighting up the sky and zillion stars all around her. It would've been a magical night, if it weren't one spent alone, devoid of hope. Waves washed over her sand-covered feet and back to sea, and with it shallow, shaky breath she couldn't even feel leave her lungs.
She sniffled, her eyes filled with big fat tears. She'd done her best to keep it together during the party. While it'd been worlds away from her heart's desire, it'd been one of the sweetest things anyone had ever done for her. She particularly liked the Professor's gift. She sat in the sand, holding it close, wanting to feel he knew she needed a place to pour out her heart… Only, she wished to pour it out to him.
It was only lately that she'd felt it, life slipping by. She'd always heard youth characterized as fleeting, and while still young, it wasn't until now that she'd had any true comprehension of what that meant. Her heart skipped a beat in disbelief. She'd come here a teenager, and now, a decade later, she found herself panicked by the years as they piled on, leaving no real life, or love, or achievement in exchange.
Mary Ann dried her eyes, sniffling, wondering if her life was a wash. None of them had ever imagined they'd be there, on this island a decade later. What would be left when she got back to Kansas? An Aunt and Uncle who'd be delighted to see her, if they could still see by then? Status as her small town's old maid? And if she was lucky, its librarian too?
Mary Ann didn't want that life for herself, she'd wanted a husband, children … Desperately. And, beyond that, she'd seen too much of the world now to be an old maid librarian on the Plains. Ginger, who had a much more imaginative mind than she, had insisted that she come to Hollywood with her … forge a life for herself there, or even rely on her. The two didn't speak of this much, neither willing to tempt fate, and both too heartsick to discuss what they feared would not come to pass.
Mary Ann knew she could count on this. But it was not what her heart desired. She looked down at the journal as it rested against her knees, tracing her fingers over the carefully etched heart, its shadow reflected by bright moonlight. She gave a weak smile, wanting to read something into the gesture, wanting to tempt fate. Surely the Professor was just being sweet. He was a very sweet man at times, whether he realized it or not. It was what had first made her start to fall for him.
At first, she'd dismissed her feelings outright, admonishing herself for even the thought of the silly, school-girl crush. After all, the Professor was a wise, handsome scholar. What could he possibly ever see in a plain girl from Kansas, like her? She was a child to him, and she thought, if anything, he saw her as a kid sister.
She reminded herself of this day in, and out, but still her attraction to him only deepened as time passed. Over the years, she found herself siding with him, defending him… trusting him, like none of the others. And even as she tried to fight it, her attraction grew to fondness, fondness to loyalty, and with her own age … desire. Desire she still didn't totally grasp…
Mary Ann didn't know how it could be that, only that it was. She could no longer see going home to anyone in Horners Corners, Kansas … Or see her children's faces … not unless they had his pure blue eyes. She swallowed her tears, relieved she was still able to hide her true feelings. Surely he could never feel the same about her. Could he? Mary Ann sniffled, having long ago come to terms with the knowledge that her feelings had blossomed as she herself matured, and that her crush had become the real thing: steadfast, unfailing, faithful, love…
"Couldn't sleep?" Came a voice from up the beach.
She gasped, almost jumping out of her skin in a panic, even more alarmed when she realized it was him.
"I er… no Professor." She smiled nervously, trying desperately to hide her tears.
"May I?" He inquired.
"Sure." She hesitated, biting her lip.
He sat at her side, submerging his toes in wet sand. "I um. Hope you had a happy birthday."
She smiled half-heartedly, and chuckled a little, part of her touched by the question, another part torn to tell the truth: that she was consumed with desperation about their future … shared or not. She looked up at him, mid-laugh, pausing almost in horror when met with a look of abject sadness on his part. It was then she took note of the tears still rolling down her cheeks, clearly visible under the moonlit sky.
She froze, finding there was nothing to hide now. The Professor said not a word and reached out, gently wiping her tears away with his thumb. She opened her mouth in surprise at the gesture, but found she couldn't speak. She remained still, longing to ease her cheek into his hand and just simply rest there.
"You don't need to cry." He said. Her eyes widened in disbelief as he did just that, and cupped her cheek in hand.
Had he?… How could he…?!
"Yes I do." She whispered, her eyes wide.
The Professor gulped, unable to believe he'd crossed the line like this and she'd not protested. Just this simple, little gesture was big for him. It was too much all at once, after all, he didn't want to be forward, but, he had no idea it'd touched her soul.
"I know a decade of birthdays is an awfully long time but, I promise its a chapter in your story. Not the whole thing." He said, wiping her tears again.
She sighed painfully when he pulled away, but he didn't notice. Mary Ann searched his eyes as he looked down into hers, wondering what could've possibly made him come out here like this.
"Oh Professor, I don't like to think much about our somedays. The island is small enough as it is, I think it'd drive me crazy." She sniffled.
She bit her lip, longing to tell him what she thought his best someday would be, but she feared he didn't have one either, with or without her.
He nodded in understanding. "I know, but you've got everything to hope for…"
"What did you want?" She asked quickly, turning her attention to the stars.
"Hmm?"
"What was your someday?"
"Oh um. I don't really know. Some academic awards… a big scientific breakthrough." He sighed sadly. "Maybe someone to share it all with." He turned to her pointedly. "What was your someday?" He pried gently.
She hesitated in consideration before turning away a beat, unable to answer. The two waited a moment in silence before the Professor spoke again.
"Mary Ann…" He began.
Mary Ann braced herself for it: the lecture on the statistical probability they'd eventually be rescued, and likely, before too long… Instead, he continued down an unexpected path.
"You're going to have that next chapter… t-to work at something you love. T-to…" He gulped, afraid to say this. "To make someone a very happy man someday … I-if you're interested in, in that." He covered quickly.
She tilted her head, studying him, finally noticing how nervous he was becoming.
"Oh Professor, we don't have a someday. Not as long as we're here." She looked up, searching his eyes, inching closer to him.
"Oh yes, yes you do." He whispered, unable to believe it himself when he leaned down, finally letting his lips brush hers.
Her eyes opened wide, flooding with new tears, this time of joy as she wrapped her arms around him, deepening the kiss as they sunk into the sand…